Container



Sept. 5, 1933.v R u-SMPSN 1,925,466-

' CONTAINER Filed Feb. 24,. 19:51

L.; 25 INVENTOR.

Pober'f nnpson.

, mi A ATTORNE' Patented Sept. 5, 193.3

. UNITED STA CONTAINER Robert D. Simpson, Columbus, Ohio ApplicationFebruary 254, 1931 Serial No. 517,700

` comms. (c1. :azi-so) My invention relates to containers. It .has todo, particularly, with collapsible metal containers of the typegenerally used for holding and dispensing tooth paste, shaving soap andsimilar products, although there are some features of the invention thatmay be applied readily to other types of containers. The invention hasto do primarily with the dispensing end of the container and with a capand closure structure therefor of novel form.

t In the prior art, a common form of container of this type has beenprovided with a discharge neck with threads on the exterior thereofadapted for the reception of the internal threads of a screw cap. Thistype of container has been subject to several disadvantages. Forexample, it is ordinarily necessary to use two hands in opening thecontainer and there is always danger of loss of the cap. Therealsoarises a danger of hardening of the material to be dispensed, thishardening frequently occurring in the neck of the container andinducing' likelihood of bursting -of the container from the applicationof sufficient pressure to overcome this hardened condition of thematerial.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a container which maybe delivered to the consumer in sealed condition, together with areadily available means for opening the container.

Another object of this invention is -to provide a container with aclosure structure that may be readily applied, by the user, to-a sealedcontainer and then may be immediately utilized and operated by thefingers of the hand which holds the container, to subsequently open orseal the discharge orifice.

The preferred embodiment of my invention contemplates the provisionl ofa container of .comparatively soft material which is provided with aneck that is sealed by means of an integrallyformed disk of softmaterial. In conjunction with this container, I preferably utilize aclosure structure which embodies a closure body portion and a closurecap. This closure body portion preferably carries a means which becomeseifeotive, during the application of the closure structure to thecontainer, to automatically pierce the removed from interference withdelivery of the material from the container. Thus, the struedi sealingdisk and to so position it that it will be closure structure incondition to regulate supply of this material therefrom.

Various other objects and features of thisinvention will appear as thefollowing description progresses. The preferred' embodiment of theinvention is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein similarcharacters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my preferred form of container withthe closure structure shown removed therefrom but in close ,proximitythereto. Y

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional vView of ythe structure shown in Figure1 Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View of my preferred form ofcontainer and showing the closure structure during the progress ofitsapplication thereto. t

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container shown inFigure l, withthe closure device re moved and illustrating the manner in which thesealing disk has been pierced by the closure structurethough the scalingdisk has not yet been movedA to position of non-interference with/de'-llvery.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of-my preferred form of containerwith the closure applied thereto, this figure illustrating the manner inwhich the sealing disk has been moved to a posithe tion `ofnon-interference with delivery by the S5 closure structure.

Figure 6 is a perspective'view illustrating the container with thesealing disk in its position of non-interference with delivery, thecontainer being shown with the closure structure removed therefrom. j

Figure 7 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a modied form ofcontainer equipped with a modified form of closure device.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of other modified closurestructure.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of a clo sure device of the formillustrated in Figure 8. .v

In the drawing, my container is shown as comprising a body portion 1having a neck 2 formed thereon. This neck 2 is constructed and deliveredto the consumer with an integral sealing disk 3 that is of comparativelythin cross-section. The

still n an'- "neck 2 is preferably of somewhat heavier cross-v sectionand has its outer periphery downwardly and outwardly dared, asillustrated in Figures 2 and 3. It will be understood that the bodyportion of the container may be filled with any suitable material andthat this body portion is preferably `of such metal and formation thatit may be progressively collapsed from the bottom toward the neck forthe progressive delivery of the material from the container.

The closure structure preferably comprises an annular head 4 with anouter skirt 5 and an inner skirt 6, these skirts being separated by anannular space 'l of such form and dimension that it will receive theneck 2 of the container body portion with a wedging fit. It will benoted further that the outer skirt 5 of the closure structure is ofgreater length than the inner skirt 6.

The inner skirt 6 preferably has its lower edge cut to an oblique lineas at 8 so that the side 9 of the edge will extend downwardlysubstantially further than the side 10 of the edge. Furthermore, thisside 9 of the edge is preferably beveled as at 11 so as to produce ashearing edge. Likewise, the external diameter of the skirt 6 is almostas great as the internal diameter of the neck 2.

In the assembly of the closure structure upon the container bodyportion, this closure structure successively assumes the positions shownin Figures 2, 3 and 5. In reaching the position of Figure 5, the skirt 6is forced downwardly through the sealing disk 3 so as to partially severit, in the manner indicated by Figure 4. Continued movement of theclosure structure into the position of Figure 5 results in forcing thepartially severed disk downwardly along one side of the inner wallsurface oi' the neck and the simultaneous bending of this disk so thatit substantially conforms to the internal contour of this surface, asindicated in Figures 5 and 6. By the time the position of Figure 5 isattained by the closure structure, the outerv skirt 5 is` rmly wedgedupon the downwardly and outwardly ilared exterior of the neck 2.

The head 4 of the closure structure is preferably provided with aninclined annular surface l2 which extends upwardly to lform acomparatively sharp juncture 13 with the inner wall surface 14 of theaperture through the skirt 6. Designed to cooperate with the seatformed-by the juncture of these surfaces is a closure cap that may begenerally designated l5. This closure cap is preferably provided with asocket i6 for the reception of a pad 1'7 of cork or some similarlyresilient material. The base oi the socket v is formed by a disk 18which has a slight upward curvature so that the upper surface of the padis slightly spaced from this disk at and about the center thereof.

The closure cap is attached to the outer skirt of the closure structureby means ci? bowed legs 19. These bowed legs 19 are provided at theirlower extremities with curved hook-like portions 2i) which areintegrally formed thereon and which project into apertures 2l in theouter skirt 5. The structure of the legs is such as to preventaccidental `release thereof from the apertures 2l and, at the same time,to render them sufficiently resilient to permit the closure cap to rideonto or off of its seat with a snap. Likewise, the resiliency of theseleg members is such as to rrnly hold the closure cap in adequate closingrelation to its seat when ithas once been placed thereon.

In the modified form of my invention shown in Figure 7, the containerbody is designated v and is provided with a cylindrical neck 26 whoseexterior is threaded as at 27; This neck 26 is likewise provided with a'sealing disk, such as that shown in Figure l. ln this modified form,the closure device takes substantially the same form as the closuredevice illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5 and described in thepreceding paragraphs. However, it varies slightly in that threads areprovided on the inner surface of the skirt 5 intermediate the length ofthe annular space '7. This threaded portion does not extend below theinner skirt, thereby permitting the skirt to be forced downwardlythrough the sealing disk 'to partially sever it in the manner heretoforerelated, prior to the engagement of the threads with the threaded neckof the tube.

In both instances, the same procedure is followed in displacing thesealing disk, only, in the latter instance, the securing of the cap onthe neck is obtained by engagement of the threaded surfaces, rather thanby means of a wedging action, characteristic of the type rst described.

The modified form of closure device, shown in Figures 8 and 9, takes theform of a screw cap 28 that is also adapted to be employed with acontainer having a threaded neck. This screw cap is provided with askirt 29 having internal threads 30 and a central plug 3l having itslower end pointed as at 32 and being spaced from the internal surface ofthe skirt 29. The space between-the exterior of this plug 3l and thelnte'rior of the skirt 29 is sufficiently great to accommodate thethickness of the neck 26 and also of the sealing disk whose parts aredesignated 33.

The operation of this modified structure will be apparent. The screwingof the cap onto the container will ultimately cause the plug 31 topierce the sealing disk and to force the parts 33 thereof downwardlyalong the internal sidel walls of the neck. Likewise, these' parts 33will be automatically bent to conform to the internal contour of theneck, with the result that they will be placed in a position of minimuminterference with the delivery of the material from the container.

It will be seen from this description that I have provided a superiorform of container which may be delivered to the consumer in completelysealed condition and which is automatically opened by the mereapplication thereto of the closure device which, subsequently, is tocontrol the delivery of material tl'ierelrom.v Obviously, the closuredevice of my preferred form may be applied to the neck of a container bymeans of threads, as in the form shown in Figure 7. In any of thesestructures, including the form shown in Figures 8 and 9, the placing ofthe closure structure upon the container not only punctures the sealingdisk but it moves the parts thereof to a position oi non-interferencewith the delivery of material from the container. In the preferred formdescribed, the closure structure of my container is operable with thefingers of the hand which holds the container proper and possesses thefeature of simplicity of operation in addition to the feature ofsimplicity of application. As a matter of fact, with any of thestructures which I have shown, the closure structure may be applied toany container of the form indicated, thus making it possible for themanufacturer to sell the sealed body portion alone and without theclosure structure, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

i. Container structure comprising a body portion, a neck forming a partof said body portion and having a duct therein, a sealing disk for saidAduct, a closure, an outer skirt portion carried by said closurestructure andv designed to embrace said neck, and an inner skirt prtioncarried by said closure and designed to be forced through said sealingdisk to open said duct, said inner skirt portion having a deliveryaperture therethrough. l

, 2.` Container structure comprising a body portion, a neck forming apart of said body por tion and having a duct therein, a sealing disk forsaid duct, a closure structure, an outer skirt portion carried Vby saidclosure and designed to embracel said neck'with a wedging t, and aninner skirt portion carried by said closure and designed to be forcedthrough said sealing vdisk to open said duct, said inner skirt portionhaving a delivery aperture therethrough.

3. Container structure comprising a body portion, a neck forming a partof said body portion and having` a duct therein, a sealing disk for saidduct, a closure structure, an outer skirtV portion carried by saidclosure .structure and designed to embrace said neck, an inner skirtportion carried by said closure and designed to be forced through saidsealing disk to open said duct, said inner skirt portion having adelivery aperture therethrough,v and a closure cap forming a part ofsaid closure structure.

' 4. Container structure comprising a body portion, `a neck forming apart of said body portion and having a duct `thereirna sealing disk forsaid duct, a closure structure, an outer skirt portion carried by saidclosure structure and designed to embrace said neck,l an inner skirtportion carried by `said closure and vdesigned to be forced through saidsealing disk to open said i' duct, said inner skirtportion havingadelivery 5. Container structure comprising a body por-` tion, a neckforming` a part of said body portion andv having .a duct therein andthreads provided on the exterior thereof, the end of said neck beingclosed by a sealing disk, a closure structure, an outer skirt portioncarried by said closure, provided with a threaded portion dc-i signed toengage with the vthreaded neck of said container, and an inner skirtportion carried by said closure and designed to be forced through said'sealing disk to open said duct prior to cooperation of saidthreadedportions, said inner skirt portion having a delivery aperturetherethrough.

6. Container structure comprising a body portion, a neck forming apartof said body portion and having a duct therein, a sealing disk for saidduct, and a closure adapted to t on saidneck and having concentric skirtmembers adapted to straddle the upper end of said neck,

the outer skirt member being adapted to embrace the outer surface ofsaid neck, the inner skirt member being provided with avcutting portion`adapted to pierce said sealing disk when the closure is applied to thecontainer, said inner skirt member beingof slightly less diameter thansaid neck so that it will force all portions of said sealing disk, aftersaiddisk has been pierced, into intimate contact with the inner surfaceo! said neck. ,e p

` ROBERT D. SIMPSON.

